Simon Says Stamp Christmas cards!

Hey everyone, So glad to be back. I have couple of more Christmas cards to share with you today. But before that I want to address my new blog look. I was fiddling with it few days ago because the Pinterest button which I added previously stopped working. Mmm! Then I figured out they do not work on my Flickr coded photos on my post. While doing so, I goofed up my entire blog theme and it disappeared. Sigh! Frustrated, I redid my blog with a free WordPress theme to get it running while I pondered on a new look. Hence my blog was all weird for past week or so. Finally, I found the theme I wanted from Etsy and got it installed. My blog is now up and running. Yay! Still figuring out WordPress plugins and it takes up a lot of my time. Anyway, good news is I have a new looking blog which I love and it is up and running. Thank you for your patience if you had encountered difficulties for past few days with my blog.

Back to the post. I feel like I am back from my sabatical. I missed the intense and energetic crafting I used to do. For past two month, I have slowed down a bit to give time to my daughter. Final year 12 exams starting soon. She has done well in her mock exams. Very happy. Confirmation emails for applications made for universities have started to arrive and interview for residential colleges too. So it feels like everything is under control now. Fingers crossed. Although, I am not doing any of the work except for the payment, I think some one needs to keep tab on things. Just to keep track, a nudge or a push here and there, making sure all document is submitted on time, providing information and alternatives and a lot of emotional support and reassurances.

Today, I decided to restart my crafting back to full throttle. I made two cards using Simon Says Stamp Cheer and Joy release products. I got to say, it felt very good. Really good to get back into crafting and enjoy the process. Without further yapping, here are the cards.

Card #1

Card #2

I used the new Leaves and Berries background stamp on the background. I gold heat embossed the background stamp on red and green cardstock. I die cut the panel using the largest of the Wonky stitched rectangle die. Then sponged distress inks in darker shades on the edges of the panel to add depth to the panel. I used Peeled Paint and Aged Mahogany distress inks. I also distress the edges with scissors. I spattered lots of gold and white paint on these panels.

For the focal die cut, I used the Eucalyptus leaves die from STAMPtember release. I die cut the leaves in gold glitter cardstock as well as vellum to layer and glue them on the top only. I also folded the leaves to made the leave pop and add dimension.

The sentiment is from Sentiment Strip Christmas from Cheer and Joy release. A few white glossy accents here and there to finish off the cards.